The most annoying crisps to eat in public, revealed: Scientists name the brands with the loudest crunch – and say the noisiest is the same volume as a vacuum cleaner

Whether it’s a tangy Dorito or a cheesy Wotsit, crisps are one of the UK’s favourite snacks. 

But if you want to enjoy a treat in peace, then you might want to think again.

A study has revealed the most annoying crisps to eat in public – and it’s bad news if your go-to brand is Hula Hoops. 

These were found to be the noisiest crisps in the UK, with a crunch so loud it’s the same volume as a vacuum cleaner. 

If you’re more self-conscious, the study suggests that it’s best to opt for Skips, which were deemed the quietest crisp. 

Betting site Betway enlisted six participants who tested ten of the nation’s favourite crisps – Walkers, Monster Munch, McCoys, Doritos, Skips, Quavers, Nik Naks, Popchips, Hula Hoops and Wotsits. 

While the participants ate the snacks, a decibel meter was used to measure the sound of the crunches. 

The results revealed that Hula Hoops are the loudest crisp, with the crunch reaching almost 75 decibels. 

For comparison, that’s the equivalent of a car being driven at 65mph, or a noisy vacuum cleaner!

Nik Naks were second on the list, reaching 69.17 decibels – the equivalent of background conversation in a restaurant. 

Rounding out the top five were Doritos (68.83 decibels), McCoys (68.67 decibels), and Popchips (66.83 decibels). 

At the other end of the scale, Skips were revealed to be the quietest crisp to eat, with the average crunch coming in at just 54 decibels – the equivalent of a quiet office.  

Wotsits weren’t far behind, clocking in at 56.67 decibels, which is the equivalent of a fridge. 

Betting site Betway enlisted six participants who tested ten of the nation’s favourite crisps 

‘Experienced crisp eaters will know that letting crisps like Wotsits and Skips dissolve in your mouth is the least offensive way for eating these types of salty potato snacks,’ Betway said. 

The study comes shortly after MailOnline carried out its own experiment to understand how much air is in popular crisp packets. 

The results revealed that the BBQ Beef Hula Hoops had the least air in their packet, with just 20 per cent of the bag taken up by gas. 

This was followed by Wotsits (24 per cent), and Pickled Onion Monster Munch (26 per cent). 

In contrast, Walkers Cheese & Onion were found to contain the most air (37 per cent), followed by Tangy Cheese Doritos (33 per cent).